Bearing structure for straight knitting machines



March-6, 1945. F. WEISBECKER 2,370,762

BEARING STRUCTURE FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 27, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Ema Wisbedtc13 ATTORNEY.

March 6, 1945. I F, e. WEISBECKER 2,370,762

BEARING STRUCTURE FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 27, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .58 firs-$1- Ha @L-3' INVE-NTO'R:

li'ali dj'il l' Mar,

QWTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 6, 1945 BEARING STRIfCTUR-E. FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Frank G. Weisbecker, Glen side, Pa;, assignor to Hosiery Patents Inc.,

ration of Pennsylvania Lansdale, Pa., a. corpo 7 Application November 27, 1943, :Serial No. 512,016

18 Claims. (01.66 109) This invention relates to a straight or fullfashioned knitting machine, and to a novel and relative to. certain cooperating knitting elenfients.

improved bearing structure for 'certainof its mechanisms, such as the knockover bit mechanisms. i v

The knockover bit device or mechanism of each knitting section of a straight or full-fashioned knitting machine is cooperatively associated with tion. In full-fashioned hosiery knitting machines of the type known as Reading machines,

the knockover bits are secured'for united move-v ment in a brass bed, or bar, provided with integral end trunnions'mounted for rotary oscillating 'movements in stationary bearings on the vAnother object is to provide a novel bearing structure for association with a straight knitting machine device or .mechanism, such-as-iajknockover bit mechanism, arranged to facilitate .the precise positioning of one or moreof, its operating parts relative to one or more operating parts of a cooperating device or mechanism such asa sinker-head mechanism.

A furtherobject is to provide such a structure which can be readily embodied in new; machines, or utilized as a repair or substitute means in old machines, to impart thereto certain structural and functional advantages. H

- An additional object is to provide such a struc: ture having novel positive means for maintaining the movable elements of certaincoacting straight knitting machine devices in. determinedrelation.

A still further object is to provide such *a structure having novel means to facilitate the lubrication and replacementofcertain parts thereof which are'subject to wear.

. Another objectis'to provide such a structure which can be utilized forrepairingand' improvsinker head. Whentheitrunnions become worn the said precise location and operation of the ing a defective straight knitting machinefdevice I or unit, such as the knockover bit unit thereof;

' without necessitating the replacement of. the

knockover bits isdisturbed and since no adjustparts involved make this a procedure requiring considerable skill and time. The indicated expenses and diiiiculties are more serious in the finer gauge machines, such as 51 gauge fullfashioned hosiery knitting machines, and in view of the trend toward the more-extensive use of such type of machines, and for other reasons, the provision of means for correcting the indicated and similar conditions has become highly desirable and important from-the standpoint of the machine users and operators.

One object of my invention is to provide a straight or full-fashioned knitting machine having novel means for eliminating, or minimizing, the indicated and other expenses and difficulties.

Another object is to provide such a machine having novel means for facilitating the making of, positional adjustments of, the knockover bits main'or most expensive part thereof, such as the knockover bit bed, or bar.

, Another object is the provision of such a structure in, association with the sinker-head and knockover bit assembly 'of a straight or'fullfashioned knitting machine, so as to impart to the-same; as well asto the machine in which it is mounted, the referred to and other structural and functional features of advantage. I p With these and other objectsin view, which will become. apparent from-the following detailed descriptionof certain practical and illustrative embodiments of my novel improvements, shown in the accompanying drawings, myinvention comprises the novel elements, features of construction and arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship, as hereinafter more specifically pointed out in the claims. v

In the drawings: I Figure 1 is a plan view of certain parts of a standard sinker-head and cooperatively associ atedknockover bit unit of a conventional straight or full-fashioned knitting machine, having my invention applied thereto. e

Fig. 2 is afrontelevational view of the mechanismshownin Figure 1. f Fig; 3 is a left end elevational view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1' and 2, with certain additional correlated standard knitting machine parts indicated in dot-and-dash lines.

Fig.- 4 is an enlarged partiaksectional view through certain parts of the bearing structure of my invention, taken substantially as indicated by the arrows 4-4 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the knockover bit bed, or bar forming part of my invention, and indicates in dot-and-dash lines the parts of a standard knockover bit bar which are removed or cut away at its ends to enable its utilization in conjunction with the improved bearing construction.

of my invention when the latter is provided as a repair unit. l

Fig. 6 is a left end elevational view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the arrows 7-4 on Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a bearing rod forming part of my invention.

Fig. 9 is an end elevational view of therod shown in Fig. 8. l

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail sectional view hosiery knitting machine of the type known as a Reading machine. As the description proc'eeds, it Will'bE realized that the construction and arrangement disclosed can be readily associated with the said mechanisms of new machines of this type, or similar machines already in use. When associated with a new machine, certain parts of my invention are provided in standardized form best suited to accomplish their intended purpose. 'When associated with a, ma chine already in use, the invention is necessarily applied as a substitute means for the old bearing structure which it displaces, and as such will not only impart to such a machine its inherent advantages but in addition will make possible the re-utilization of certain machine parts which would ordinarily have to be discarded. In the latter case, certain of the standard parts of the mechanism in use, by modification, are also converted into component elements of my invention.

It is to be understood, thereforetha't my invenl tion can be variously applied to straight or fullfashioned knitting machines, in standardized form, or in a form consisting partly of new, and partly of old modified machine elements.

To faciiitat'an understanding of the various phases of my novel bearing structure, the said sinker-head and knockover bit mechanisms with which it is cooperatively associated, will first be briefly described.

In Figs. 1,2 and 3 there is shown a sinker-head of the usual and well known type associated with each-fabric blank knitting section of a conventional straight or full-fashicned knitting machine. Such a device, or mechanism, generally comprises a stationary sinker-head support 15, a sinker-head bottom 11, a sinker-head top 18, a verge plate I9 provided with a cushion element 20, a presser edge 2|, sinkers 22 and dividers 23 For purposes of orientation of these sinker-head parts in the knitting machine, Fig. 3 indicates in dot-and-dash lines such additional machine parts as the needles 24, needle bed 25, needle clamp 25 and needle bar 21.

The sinkers 22 and dividers 23 are mounted in parallel slots milled in the sinker-head bottom 11 and top 18, which slots serve as guides for the sinkers and dividers when they are moved back and forth by the usual jacks and catchbar, not

shown. a

Each standard sinker-head of the machine has cooperatively associated therewith a brass knockover bit support or bed 28, having fixedly clamped thereto a multiplicity of knockover bits 29, corresponding in number with the sinkers and dividers. During the knitting operation, the knockover bits serve to catch the thread as it is dropped from the noses of the sinkers and dividers when they are pulled back by the catchbar. In this manner the last knitted loops are held in position by the knockover bits while the needles move downward and pull thethread through the old'loops and then start their upward travel toward their originalposition, or starting point. During this procedure, the knockover bits jointly carry out, their usual oscillating movement which is regulated in accordance with the thickness of the yarn being knitted. To enable the knockover bits to carry out the said oscillating movement, the standard brass knockover bit support, or bed, of the said Reading type machines, is provided with integral end trunnions which are mounted in split bearings united with the sinker-head, and the wearing action which takes place between the trunnions and bearings results in certain of the above indicated difficulties and expenses.

In accordance with my invention, the knockover bit mounting or bed 28 differs from one of the'referred to standard mountings in that the ends thereof are devoid of the usual trunnions, and terminate just beyond the last or end knockover bits 29. A certain bottom section of the said standard bar is also omitted. To make the difference entirelyv clear, Figs. 5 and 6 indicate in dot-and-dash lines the integral end trunnions and associated parts, as well as the said bottom section of a standard knockover bit bed or mounting which are omitted, or cut oil (when convcrting said standard bar), to provide a knockover bit mounting in accordance with my invention. 1

Further in accordance with my invention, there is provided a bearing rod 30, having a cut-out part 34 against the flat surface of which is secured the knockover bit bed 28, by means of screws 32 which pass through apertures in the bed 28 and are secured in the threaded bores 33 Of the rod 30.

The ends of the rod 30 are mounted for rotary movement in two similar bearing members or sleeves 34, each of which is provided with an end flange 34 and a longitudinally extending oil aperture 34 The sleeves 34 are mounted in centrally split clamp devices 35 on depending members 36 integral with the sinker-head bottom IT. The sleeves 34 are arranged so that their flanges 34 are secured in opposed relationship in the clamp devices 35 and in contact with the ends of the knockover bit bed 28, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The sleeves 34 are positioned in the clamp devices 35 so that their oil apertures 34 are in registry with circular oil ho1es'35 of the clamp devices as shcwnin Fig. 10. Each of the centrally split clamp devices 35-consists of two complementary parts or jaw elements 35 and 35. The element 35 is formed on the depending member 36, and the separate part 35 is held in cooperating position with the part 35 by means of screws 38 which pass through apertures in- To prevent the elongated oil apertures 34 from moving out of registry, or becoming displaced, relative to their respective circularoil holes 35', the bearing sleeves 34 and clamp devices 35 are provided with means to maintain them in the relationship shown i'n'F'ig. 3', or substantially so. One form of such means is illustrated in the drawings and comprises the provision of diametrically opposed flat portions 34 on the sleeves 34 ing sleeves 34 can be readily replaced when worn in conjunction with clamp devices 35, the complementary jaw elements and 35 of which have arcuate sleeve holding portions of a smaller radius than the radius of the external surface of the sleeves 34. By referring to Fig. 3, it will be apparent that with this arrangement the outside peripheries of the sleeves 34 are more particularly contacted by the arcuate sleeve holding portions of the clamp jaws adjacent to the corners formed by the flat portions 34, and that the interfitting relationship of the sleeves 34 and clamp devices 35 is consequently such as to prevent any substantial rotarymovement of the sleeves 34 within the clamp jaws 35and 35 unless the sitioning of the knockover bits 29, relative to such parts as the sinkers 22. dividers 23, orneedles 24, it is merely necessary'to somewhat loosen the screws 38, so that the sleeves 34 will be free to slide in the clamp devices-35. The bed '28 and its therewith united bearing rod 38 can then be moved lengthwise to any selected position of adjustment. To maintain the bed 28 in adetermined longitudinally adjusted position, the sleeves 34 are moved toward the bed 28 until the flanges 34 are in contact with the ends of the latter (see Fig. 4), after which the sleeves are fixed in position by again tightening the screws 38. bed 28 is ,contactingly arranged between the fixed bearing elements 34 in such manner that thebed can readily carry out its usual rotary oscilated in usual manner by the means provided in a standard knitting machine to impart rotary oscillating, or rocking movement, to the knockover bits in wellknown manner.

It is to be particularly noted that'when the bearing structure of my invention is provided as In this manner the knockover bit 'lating movements but is positively confined inor impaired, so that the same can be made of relatively low cost and serviceable material, such as'steel, plastic material, or the like, considered. suitable for this purpose. I

Since the ordinary knockover bit bearing structure of'a straight or full-fashioned knitting machine includes a pair of split bearings which are similar to the clamp devices 35, except that the bearing bore or aperture thereof is of smaller diameter so as to accommodate the previously referred to integral trunnions of a standard knockover bit bed, it will be understood that such split bearings can be readily converted into the clamp devices of my invention when the latter is substituted in amachine of this type, by simply enlarging the diameter of the bearing bores to accommodate therein the sleeves 34, as previously explained and clearly shown in the drawings. I

Ofcourse, the improvements specifically described, by which the noted results are obtained,

can be changed and modified in various "ways I without departing from the invention herein disclosed and more particularly defined by the appended claims.

Iclaim': v

1. A straight knitting machine comprising'a sinker-head, a. knockover bit unit cooperatively associated with said sinker-head and including supporting means arranged in fixed position relative to the sinker-head, two bearing elements removab'ly secured in determined position on said supporting means,' and a mounting provided with knockover bits and detachably secured means arranged for rotary movement in said bearing elements.

2. A straight knitting machine comprising a sinker-head, a knockover bit unit cooperatively associated with said sinker-head and including supporting means arranged in' fixed position relative to the sinker-head, two bea-rings'associated with said supporting means, a device provided with knockover bits, and a rod detachably secured to said device having portions thereof mounted for rotary movement in said bearings.

3. In a straight knitting machine the combina tion with a machine device, of a cooperating unit comprising supporting means arranged in fixed relation to said device, two bearing sleeves,- means for selectively securing said sleeves to the supporting means in relatively spaced position, means associated with said device having parts arranged in intermediate contacting relation with said sleeves, and a member detachably secured to said last mentioned means and provided withpor tions mounted for rotary movement in said sleeves. j

4. In a straight knitting machine the combi-. nation with a machine device, of a cooperating unit comprising supporting'means arranged in fixed relation to said device, two bearing sleeves, means for selectively securing said sleeves to the supporting means in relatively spaced position, movable means; associated with said device hav-, ing parts arranged in intermediate contacting relation with saidsleeves, and'a member detach- I ably secured to-said movable means and provided withx-portions mounted for rotary movement in said sleeves:

4 5. 'In'combinati'on, a sinker-head having united therewith two spaced clamp devices, a separate bearing'element secured in position by each of said devices, a rod having portions thereof mountedfor rotary movement in said elements, a knockover bit support secured to said rod intermediate the elements, and means arranged to prevent longitudinal movement of the support relative to said elements.

6. In combination, a sinker-head having united therewith two spaced split clamp devices, screw means arranged to loosen and tighten said devices, a separate bearing element secured in position by each of said devices, arod having portions thereof mounted for rotary movement in said elements, a knockover bit support secured to said rod intermediate the elements, and means arranged to prevent longitudinal movement of the support relative to said elements.

7. In combination, a sinker-head having united therewith two spaced depending members pro- ,vided with axially aligned bores, a separate bearing sleeve slidably engageable in the bore of each member, means arranged to-secure said sleeves in longitudinally determined position in said bores," a rod having portions thereof mounted for rotary movement in said sleeves, a knockover bit support secured to said rod intermediate the sleeves, and means arranged to prevent longitudinal movement of the support relative to the sleeves. I

8. In combination, a sinker-head having united therewith two spaced depending members provided with axially aligned bores, a separate hearing sleeve slidably engageable in the bore of each member, means arranged to secure said sleeves in longitudinally determined position in said bores, a rod having portions thereof mounted for rotary'movement in said sleeves and provided intermediate said portions with a flat surface, a knockover bit support secured to said flat surface, and means arranged to prevent longitudinal movement of the support relative to the sleeves. v

9. In combination, a sinker-head having united therewith two spaced depending members each provided with a bore and an oil hole extending through a wall portion to the bore, a separate bearing sleeve slidably engageable in the bore of each member and provided with a lengthwise extending oil aperture arranged to register with the oil hole of the respective member with which the sleeve is slidably engaged, means arranged to secure said sleeves in longitudinally determined position in said bores, a rod having portions thereof mounted for rotary movement in said sleeves, a knockover bit support secured to said rod intermediate the sleeves, and means arranged to prevent longitudinal movement of the support relative to the sleeves.

10. In combination, a sinker-head having united therewith two spaced clamp devices, a

separate bearing element secured in position by each -of said devices, a rod having portions thereof -mounted for rotary movement in said elements, and a knockover bit support secured to said rod in intermediate contacting relation with said elements. 7

11. In combination, a sinker-head having united therewith twospaced clamp devices, two

separate-bearing sleeves each having a flange at one end and secured in position by one of said asvoncc devices so that-the flanges are arranged .inpp; posed relationship, a rod having portions thereof mounted for rotary movement-in said-sleeves, and a knockover bit support-secured to-said rod in intermediate contacting relation with said flanges.

12. In combination a sinker-head .having united therewith two spaced depending members provided with aligned clamp devices eachof which has an oil hole extending through a wall portion thereof, a separate bearing sleeve secured in each of said devices which sleeves are each provided with a lengthwise extending oil aperture in registry with the, oil hole of its respective clamp device, a rod having portions thereof mounted for rotary oscillation in said sleeves and provided intermediate said portions with a flat surface section, a knockover bit sup ort secured to said section, means arranged to prevent'longitudinal movement of the support relative to said sleeves, and means associatedwith said rod for imparting rotary movement thereto.

13. A straight knitting machine comprising a sinker-head, two aligned clamp devices united with said sinker-head, a separate bearingsleeve secured in each ofsaid devices, a rod having portions mounted for rotary'movement in said sleeves, a support secured tosaid rod, knockover bits united with said support, and-meansarranged to prevent longitudinal movement .ofthe support relative tothe sleeves. g

14. A straight knitting machine comprising a sinker-head having united therewith two spaced depending members provided with axially aligned bores, a separate bearing sleeve in the bore of each member, means arranged to secure said sleeves in longitudinally determined position in said bores, a rod having portions mounted for rotary oscillation in said sleeves, a support secured to said rod, knockover bits united with said support, and means arranged to prevent longitudinal movement of the support relative to the sleeves, I 1

15. A straight knitting machine comprising 'a sinker-head, a knockover bit unit cooperatively sinker-head, a knockover bit unit cooperatively associated with saidsinker-head andincluding two bearing sleeves, means arranged to secure said sleeves in determined position relative to the sinker-head, a-rod havingportions thereof mounted for rotary movement in said sleeves, a support secured to said rod, knockover bits united with said support, and means arranged to prevent longitudinal movement of the support relative to the sleeves. I

I 17. A straight knitting machine .comprisinga sinker-head, a knockover bit unit cooperatively associated withsaid sinker-head and including two bearing sleeves, means arranged to secure said sleeves in determined position relative to the sinker-head, means adapted. to permit longitudinal adjustment of the sleeves, va rod having portions thereof mounted .for rotary movement in said sleeves, a support secured to said rod, knockover bits united with said support, and

means arranged to prevent longitudinal movesinker-head, means adapted to permit individual longitudinal adjustment of the sleeves, a rod hav- I ing portions thereof mounted for rotary movement in said sleeves, a support secured to said rod, knockover bits united with said support, and means arranged to prevent longitudinal'move ment of the Support relative to the sleeves.

FRANK G. WEISBECKER. 

